Darfur Peacekeepers to take action if attacked, UN

Khartoum, 14 May-(ANA)-The head of the joint African Union-United Nations mission in Darfur has said that  peacekeepers will be more robust when defending themselves from attacks.

Ibrahim Gambari said “[As] UNAMID we are going to be very strict in terms of a robust position so that people will be discouraged from even attempting to attack us.” 

“We also want to make it clear that an attack on international peacekeepers is a war crime, a violation of international criminal law,” Mr. Gambari added. 

He said the Sudanese Government, as UNAMID’s host, bore the primary responsibility of protecting the mission’s staff and curbing the criminal activities that had led to attacks on peacekeepers by arresting the perpetrators 

and bringing them to justice. 

“The Government has assured us that they will do their best to enhance the security of our staff,” Mr. Gambari said. (ANA)

FA/ANA/14 May 2010-------